Raymond Omer Hinthorn

Raymond Omer Hinthorn, 86, was born in 1939 in Bloomington Normal Hospital to Omer and Leta Hinthorn of Towanda, Illinois. He died in his home on July 10, 2026, just 4 weeks shy of his 87th birthday, surrounded by his loving family.

Dad was one of 10 siblings growing up in Illinois farm country. Stories from that period are scarce, but it sounded like a rough and tumble upbringing. For example, the oldest boy, Roger, was a domineering but when the parents went to town, the other 9 children ganged up on Roger and tied him to a tree so they could play without being bullied. One of them would climb the windmill to watch for parents coming home. Seeing them returning a distance off, they untied Roger. The childhood ethic was, you didn't tell the parents, so they got away with it! Dad recounted fun times in local streams and ponds, but they had to clear the snakes out of the water with a golf club before relaxing and enjoying it. On the other end of the spectrum for sibling loyalty, his brother, Bill, could not swim. He would still jump in the stream and try to drift across the stream. If he didn't make it, he would just sink to the bottom and wait for one of his brothers to get him!

Ray graduated from Lexington High School in 1957. The draft was on, and his older brothers, having served in the US Army, told him they would “kick his behind” if he allowed himself to be drafted into the Army. Ray enlisted in the Air Force and entered in February of 1958. His closest service buddies were his bunkmate, Darryl Morris, and Harold “Bugs” Briggs. He did basic training at Lackland (Texas), then tech school at Keesler Field (Mississippi). His superior told him there were great promotion opportunities in Morocco so he chose to go there. “Fat chance” on the promotion but he did serve and make memories in the Marrakech and Casablanca areas before returning stateside to Geiger AFB (Spokane WA), and finally Opheim in Montana. Dad served as radar technician, then air traffic controller. His enlistment was extended a year due to the Berlin Wall Crisis. He was discharged in June 1962, and had reserve duty until February 1964. Later in life, he further served the military community by becoming Disabled American Vets (DAV) Commander for Boundary County where he helped many local veterans and their families, then a short stint as State Commander before resigning to focus on caring for his wife Alice’s health concerns. He was also a long-time member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles.

Ray met Alice in 1959 when she was attending Kinman Business School in Spokane, WA. The story goes that Ray’s bunkmate, Darrell, had met Alice’s roommate, Sonya, and brought Ray to a gathering at Sonya and Alice’s apartment. Alice needed to get some homework done so she took her books and a flashlight into a closet. Ray followed her into the closet and helped with her homework! The new couples dated and, on June 26, 1960, there was a double wedding.

After his discharge from the US Air Force in 1962, Ray took a job in Tacoma, Washington working for Puget Sound National Bank. In not much time, they made their way out of the soggy west coast, taking another programmer/analyst job in Spokane with the Washington Trust Bank. It wasn’t long until he was convinced by a friend that there was good farmland in Alberta. Ray was about to take his family north into Canada when his father-in-law approached him with an offer: take over the Krause family farm operation. Instead of Canada, in 1966 the Hinthorns moved to Copeland.

The farming and ranching life was more to the liking of Ray and Alice. It was never easy and money was always tight, but you couldn’t beat the office. Ray farmed the bench at Copeland and the valley in District 4. He grew primarily wheat, barley, oats, and alfalfa. He raised beef and hogs. There were no pure pets on the farm and ranch; every creature had a job to do: horses and dogs to work the cattle, chickens to feed the family; cats to trim the rodent population. The family cattle drive up to mountain pastures was always memorable, a major affair every 4th of July weekend until he sold out of cattle in the 1980s.

Intent on raising a family, Ray and Alice welcomed Patrick in 1962, Ronald in 1964, and Heather in 1970. We are grateful for the best dad we could have asked for! He demanded hard work but was fair and understanding. He loved to laugh with his children. He was not afraid to discipline but generally a stern word from him was enough to eliminate the need for more.

Ray used to “rough house” with his boys, which was upsetting to Alice because she wasn't used to the rough play with children. She was worried someone was going to get hurt. No one ever was injured though - at least not that we would remember!

Parenthood was a joy but a challenge when they discovered their firstborn was born with pigeon-toes and a condition where he would pass out and stop breathing. The toes were corrected, and they learned to manage the other condition. Pat overcame and made Ray and Alice proud by being an excellent athlete.

When Heather, the third child, came along, she took a shine to her daddy and would tag along on all kinds of farm chores. Through it all, Alice and Ray raised their kids to be healthy and to find their own niche in life.

The boys grew up and followed their lives' work. While it was hard to see them go, Alice and Ray knew it was necessary for them to find their way, and they always knew the way back home.

Heather hung around and worked mostly locally and often helped Ray and Alice as they aged, up to and including caring for them in their home when they no longer could care for themselves.

The farm life was good but hard. Many nights, Mom would sit out after dark and wait for Ray to come home. To make the time pass, she would watch for the first star and for satellites. Mechanic and veterinarian services were costly, so Dad learned to do a great deal himself. It was a wonder for his kids to help with pregnancy testing, calf pulling, and C-sections. There were plenty of hard times and pain, but lots of joy too. Dad farmed until he retired in his 70s. Dad’s body went through a gauntlet: permanently injured knee from USAF service, broken leg from a horse falling on it, disconnected ribs from a horse stomp in the chest, and ultimately, COPD probably from years of breathing the valley silt.

Alice and Ray enjoyed a marriage of 63 years. Their secret, in a word, was Compromise. Each spouse doesn't get exactly what he or she wants, so you have to decide together what really matters that will make your life or marriage happy. They had their moments of disagreement, but said you have to communicate because you can't just store it all up forever. Or you can just decide that the issue is small and that arguing about it won't make a positive difference, so you just move on. They enjoyed their time together, especially dancing, and they continued this until their bodies just couldn’t do it anymore.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Alice, his siblings Barbara (Sampson), Ramona (White), William, Roger, Robert, Dean, and Jack. He is survived by brothers Harry and Darrel; his children, Patrick (Teresa), Ronald (Sandra), and Heather; grandchildren Connor Hinthorn, Miriam Hinthorn, William (Ellie) Fu-Hinthorn, Samuel Hinthorn (Grace Fan), Meredith Hinthorn, Raymond (Tess) Flower, Gavin (Kirstina) Flower, Jessica Flower, Molly Flower, and Matt (Lindsay) Foubert; and 3 great-grandchildren: Kara, Autumn, and Everett.

A memorial service is scheduled for July 25, 2026 at 11:00 am at Bonners Ferry Funeral Home, followed by a potluck reception at the Fraternal Order of Eagles, 7159 2nd St, Bonners Ferry. Those wishing to donate in remembrance of Ray may do so to their chosen charity in Ray’s name.